New chicks

Yesterday was exciting, one of the Phoenix-game cross pullets came out from under the shearing floor with a dozen new chicks, just hatched. A mix of tiny yellow,brown,black,some with markings, balls of fluff.The hen purred when I got too close to check them out, I know what that means, I'm going to take your head off if you come any closer.One of her sisters hatched 3 chicks a couple of months ago, tried to help her by putting them in a small pen until they got older,mistake,game hens are very protective and down right mean.They are the best setters and mothers, most raise all their chicks,with no help thank-you.Baby chicks are a sure sign spring will come again,and lots of fresh eggs.

Diamonds

Diamonds danced on a shallow branch that I crossed to get to the wheat straw barn.A beautiful but cold day.Alex and I bedded down the barns with extra straw for the cold nights ahead, I hate for animals to sleep on freezing ground and I think they prefer a soft bed of straw.This wheat straw has lots of heads of wheat and the goats love to pick thru and munch on them.Moved the yearling does down to the main barn with the older does and spring kid does, they are happier.I have shelters on every pasture and lots of pine thickets, but the main barn is much warmer.The blizzard we had years ago forced me to build more shelters to be prepared for the worst weather conditions.Seems we have extreme weather here, the hottest, humid summers and now cold wet winter, just have to be ready for it.I keep plenty of grain and hay on hand and freezers and pantries full of people food.There is always plenty of home grown and cooked food on the stove here.I love to feed something, animal or human.And I like it when they like it.

Stocks

When you have stock(in the barn,not the bank), everyday begins and ends with a trip to the barn.Even on Christmas morning the goats and sheep are waiting for their gifts too.I have good friends just down the road that put up the best hay you can find and store it in their barn, all I have to do is hook up to the trailer with my gator and load about 10 bales that will last a few days.Much easier than in the past years when we tried to make hay ourselves, usually unsuccessfuly, with all the humidity we have.Fired up the old Ashley stove in my mill room yesterday and got the dye pot going,decided to overdye the light blue BFL fleece to a deeper blue.Saw an old colorway I made years ago that had been spun and knitted into a poncho by friend Bonnie, very eye catching, so I decided to try it again.Got two orders for black kid mohair, handwoven scarves and one curly spun, silvery taupe skein of yarn from Sasha(yearling mohair), to spin for Clare to finish her shawl.Perfect weather and time of year for spinning and weaving, but off to the barns first to check on my stock.

Beautiful days

The last two days have been frosty mornings with balmy 50's afternoons with loads of sunshine.Daylight is gradually getting longer,yay, love those long days of sunlight.This time of year has very little forage of value, so the sheep and goats are waiting for me to come out in the morning.Lots of mud everywhere around the barns and standing and running water in the pastures and woods. I know what is coming, sore feet, haven't had any in years because of the drought, but when mud gets between the toes and stays, hoof walls will start separating,feet get sore and they start limping.I have tried many treatments in the past,walking thru footbaths,soaking in working pens,copper sulfate,zinc sulfate, lots of back breaking work with little results.Currently, I am trimming,soaking in 7% iodine to dry the foot and wrapping in a sock and vet wrap, to keep the foot dry for a few days.
Started Christmas shopping yesterday,no luck, tried again today and I'm done.I like Christmas, everything,but the shopping,(hate it).

Friends

Made it to the Christmas party with good friend Sharon, had a great time, this group of handspinners is so talented and knows how to have a good time.Won two bags of pecans in the tea cup raffle, can see pecan pies for Christmas, have to shell them first.Managed to get all the sheep and goats fed and watered before leaving,thanks to Alex. Alex started working for me in August, I think, now I can't make it without her.I don't know another young girl willing to work in the heat,rain or cold.She's an angel sent to keep me going.

Rain,rain, go away.Waiting on the rain to let up so I can feed the rest of the crew here.Already 2 inches of steady rain today.A good day for cleaning out the mill room, where I process the wool and mohair from my flocks of colored angora goats and wool sheep.Not everyone got shorn this fall before the weather got too wet and cold.They'll have to wait for a warm spell.But, there is plenty to process from the cormo,bfl and cotswold sheep and black,brown and red mohair from the new kids.I have a good supply of rovings,yarns,locks,handknit and handwoven scarves and shawls ready for sale.Hope to make it to the Peachtree Handspinner's Christmas Party tomorrow.